“Re-imagining the Christmas Cantata” by Liz Nguyen, Director of Music Ministry at Reformation Lutheran Church (Westminster, CA)Published in the March/April 2017 Journal of NACM (National Association of Church Musicians)

As church music directors, we all struggle with the question, “What are we going to do for Easter and Christmas?” These are big and important holidays in the life of the church, so we want to make sure that the end product is something that is engaging, uplifting, and special. As I was making decisions about what I wanted to do for Christmas with the choir, I recall thinking that I wanted to do something new and innovative, something no one has ever done before. I wasn’t set on singing anything in the music library, nor did I want to piece together a cantata as I have done before (we performed “Christmas Around the World” last year, featuring Christmas pieces in different languages.) After much thought and deliberation, I decided to call my friend Dr. Stephanie Hutchinson, composer of sacred music. Together, we talked about the choir members (size of the choir, level and abilities of the singers) and the personality of the congregation (conservative/liberal? What foreign languages are spoken? Who would be willing to participate?) From that conversation, Dr. Hutchinson was able to write a script based on the resources and personnel that we have at Reformation. She wrote a 4-part script featuring a spoken word choral piece, WONDERFUL COUNSELOR, THE PRINCE OF PEACE (think “Hamilton”), a script entitled “The Annunciation,” featuring different languages spoken in the congregation, a piano solo performed by Dr. Hutchinson (“O Holy Night,”) and a choral piece entitled “While Tending Sheep that Cold, Clear Night.” It was a highly anticipated event and something we all looked forward to, congregation and choir alike. After we performed the Cantata on December 18, we received some great feedback from the congregation such as, “It was different but I really liked it!”, “Powerful, unique, moving, uplifting”, and “It was a good witness for all of the people who were involved.” Using the unique gifts and talents of all of those involved, we were able to work together, pull our resources together, and “Re-imagine the Christmas Cantata.” The result was something really special and meaningful to the members of Reformation Lutheran Church. More information about the work “The Birth of Christ: Prophetic Pronouncements and Angelic Announcements” can be found on Dr. Hutchinson’s website, www.ShepherdSongMusic.com.

From congregants at Reformation Lutheran, Westminster, CA-comments on the world premiere of the cantata,THE BIRTH OF CHRIST: PROPHETIC PRONOUNCEMENTS AND ANGELIC ANNOUNCEMENTS~

"It was different but I really liked it!""Powerful!""Unique!""Moving!" "Uplifting!"“Pastor used the content again in his sermons”“Good witness for all the people who were involved”

From Steve Amerson, "America's Tenor"~

"Thanks for sharing your hymn, 'The Cross, The Blood, The Resurrection' with me. We certainly are in need of contemporary hymns that are well crafted with great lyrics and melodies. Blessings as you share your music with others."

From Colleen Cronin, Music Director of Covenant Presbyterian Church in Westchester, CA (about "God is the Poet") ~

"Everyone loved it. It is about God is the poet and the artist; we are the poem and the works of art, etc. I used it on Music Ministry Sunday to great success. It is a unison hymn (or anthem) from her published Trilogy of hymns, with beautiful piano accompaniment, easy and very short (under 2 minutes)."